2 arrested in stabbing death of 16-year-old Tyshon Perry near NoMa Metro, DC police announce

WASHINGTON - Two cousins have been arrested in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old near the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro station in Northeast DC, authorities announced on Wednesday.

DC police said 16-year-old Demonte Hewitt and 18-year-old Kurt Hewitt were taken into custody and will both be charged as adults with second-degree murder in the death of Tyshon Perry.

Tyshon, a 10th-grade student at KIPP DC College Preparatory high school, was found by police unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from a stab wound to the chest the afternoon of May 1 on 2nd Street, Northeast, near the NoMa-Gallaudet University Metro station.

Detectives said a large group of teens appeared to be fighting and Tyshon was attempting to break up the fight when he was stabbed. Authorities said they believed the fight began with an incident at KIPP but said Demonte Hewitt and Kurt Hewitt did not attend the school.

Tyshon was described as "vibrant," "an angel" and "a young man with a gentle old soul" by his family and loved ones.

"We have a family who lost a kid, who by all accounts was a really good kid," DC Police Chief Peter Newsham said Wednesday afternoon.

Demonte Hewitt and Kurt Hewitt were being held on different charges of burglary and kidnapping, and while they were in custody, people came forward to identify them as Tyshon's assailants, according to investigators.

Police said many people witnessed the attack but were fearful of retaliation so they refused to talk to officers about what they saw. Officials were urging more witnesses to come forward now that Demonte Hewitt and Kurt Hewitt were behind bars. Authorities said more arrests in the case were possible in the future.

Anyone with information that could aid detectives in their investigation was urged to call (202) 727-9099.